The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-27
BLIND BOYS PLAY A L
Prof. O. N. Woodward Describes a Very
Peculiar Scene.

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Prof. G. NJ. Woodward, in the american
Teacher, says: "When ! was in Louisville,
KY, q while ago, | visited the institution
for the Blind While walking across the
grounds | saw some boys under the trees
playing with q ball and bat. | asked:
What boys are those2' They are blind
boys, said the superintendent. But what
are they doing2' said /, thinking there
must be some mistake. When he told me
that the blind boys regularly played ball
/ could hardly believe him, and begged
that | might be allowed TO see them play.
He said the boys would play after dinner
for my special benefit. | spent the morn
ing in the school and work-rooms OF
the blind boys and girls, and | saw a
geat many wonderful things. One OF the
strongest OF all was d kindergarten with
blind pupils. They were making figures
or patterns from a copy by putting plugs in
holes. The plugs and square or round
blocks on their ends. But | set out to tell
about the baseball not the Kindergarten,
so ] will skip the dinner and take you out
under the trees where the game is 10 be
played. Five or six Of the best players
were to play, and / believe hat all but
two Of them were stone blind. The twos
could only sec large objects, like the trunk
OF u tree, a man, or a gravel walk. | do
not think they could. see q ball on the
ground or in the air.
'They took turns at the bat, and each
one was anxious the make his bases. Their
way OF pitching and catching was this:
The pitcher stood about six PAGES from the
batter, while the catcher sat squarely on
the ground. Immediately behind the bat.
When all were ready, the pitcher would
count One, two, three and gently toss
the ball. The batter would, at just tho
proper moment, swing his bat, and tho
catcher would spread out his hands and
feet TO stop the ball. lie seemed TO hear
the ball as it passed the batter
and II generally did-and struck the
ground, and it was most surprising 10 SEQ
him catch it in his arms on the first
bound, and yet perfectly blind Ii ho
failed to stop the ball he would pursue il
on his hands and feet as spry Us a dog, and
almost as keen on the track. Either he
could hear the ball roll along the grass or
could judge from the nature OF the surface
and the known speed Of the ball Just how
ii would roll. His hands would sweep tho
ground with great rapidity, and when he
hhu INC Dall ne Noulu Jump on MS lccL
and rush for the home base.
with the exception of the home base,
all the bases were trunks OF large shade
trees. | was astnnished TO see how rapidly
the boys could run. They Just flew over
the ground, making a great stamping on
the smooth earth, until they were within
five or six feet Of a base and then they
would feel up TO il. Not once did they
run against n tree, though il made me
shuddOr TO see how near they came TO do
ing 80. l suppose they knew when
they were near q tree by hearing
the echo Of their steps. Occasion
ally the batter would make n good
hit; then all hands but the runner went in
search Of the ball. AS soon as he had
made his run he would join in the hunt.
They always started of in the right dircc-
ton, and did not hunt in each others
trucks. Once the superintendent helped
them find n ball that went some fifty
yards, but generally they found II them
selves. Though this game was played for
my benefit, the well-won turf gave
abundant proof Of the fondness OF the boys
for the sport during their hours Of play"